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Topic: Bemsha Swing |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Feb 2016 3:48 pm |
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Here is my arrangement with few choruses of live improv. Clinesmith cast aluminum with a little rotary speaker sim.
https://soundcloud.com/ionahoopii/bemsha-swing-demo-1
A really fun tune to play, but deceptively difficult to play meaningful choruses over, I literally worked on blowing over the tune for 2 weeks just trying to establish a vibe and then I found it. I listened to many versions of the tune by others and thought, "maybe I can steal a little here and a little there....", but it never came down to that.
Originally I recorded video of this, but deleted the second chorus because I thought it was suspect, but then I heard a part that reminded me of Wayne Shorter sort of running out of breath in one of my favorite solos of his, that I fell in like with it!
Here is the little video (I often record these sessions to see if I like ideas and to see how I did it!).
https://www.facebook.com/mikedneer/videos/10208754357803324/?l=4563045967727004379
Thanks for listening.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Last edited by Mike Neer on 2 Feb 2016 6:39 am; edited 3 times in total |
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David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
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Posted 1 Feb 2016 4:08 pm
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Great demo, Mike. I especially like that first improv pass. Rotary has never been my favourite effect, but it sounds oddly cool here.
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David K |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Feb 2016 4:15 pm
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Yes, this rotary has a menacing vibe to it, which suits the flavor of the solo. I have been trying to find a good rotary sound for years, to no avail. Spoiled by the real thing when I was a kid.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 1 Feb 2016 7:22 pm
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True. I always thought that Curly Chalker instantly lost the "thing" that made him Curly Chalker when he kicked in the Rotary speaker FX but I have to agree it works here.
Nice, lucid soloing that actually references the melody, Mike, and in a way - now this is going to sound out of left field - kind of reminded me of old time "storytelling" trumpet players like Billy Butterfield and Ruby Braff. It was also cool when about 75% into the tune you played a characteristic steel guitar-sounding chord for the first time.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
Last edited by Andy Volk on 2 Feb 2016 6:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 2 Feb 2016 3:48 am
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I agree, Andy, getting that horn line feel is a good thing on steel. It also works well as an organ; hard not to get Jimmy Smith on the Leslie.
And I dig the bass as usual.
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 2 Feb 2016 4:57 am
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Charlie, I've played with a lot of great bass players, but they all had different levels of grease and spit in their playing. Some guys play a happy blues; others play nasty blues. I always preferred the nasty, so I try to go for the nasty.
Andy, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I'm learning how to improvise in the language I've heard all my life, but never spoke.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 2 Feb 2016 7:27 am
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"Grease" and "spit" are good ways to describe the kind of groove you've got there, Mike. I like it a lot.
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Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2016 9:15 am
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Yo Mike,
Nicely done, and one of my favorite Monk tunes! Love the rotary sound on this.
What particular effect are you using?
Keep 'em coming.
Bob |
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Mike OMalley
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2016 3:24 pm
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| Great stuff!! Monk is so frickin cool and I like the contrast between the smooth legato of lap steel and the usual reading of Monk tunes, which is to emulate his eccentric chunky chords. bravo! |
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Steve Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, GA
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 4 Feb 2016 2:35 pm
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Man I love the groove. Great job Mike.
I had some fun jamming along to it. Monk loves that dim outside sound.
Gets me all phrygian inside.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Stefan Robertson
From:
Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted 5 Feb 2016 2:44 am
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Mike. I prefer your groove to Monk's actually. Especially the B section. I feel that bass. Is that you who played the upright bass.
Man you've got the groove on it.
One critique in the B section is the groove is so hip that the solo fills should be short and sharp melodic flurries as too much starts to lose the groove. But damn. I love the compliment of the Lap Steel Guitar with that upright groove.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com
"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist" |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 5 Feb 2016 5:51 am
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There's no B section in this tune, it's just one 16 bar form.
Hopefully, by the time I make the record I will have a clear path to what I want to say on the tunes. Making the solos groove is one big part of it.
Yeah, that's me on my old Kay bass.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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